Automatic controlling device for steam-heating systems.



No. 716,850. Patented Dec. 23, I902.

J. H. DAVIS.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR STEAM HE ATINESYSTEfiS.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1900.;

'( No Model.)

may. J

trolled automatically lioness reins JAMES H. DAVIS, OF CHICAGO,ILLlNOlS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN STEAM HEATING SPECIALTY COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW. JERSEY.

AUTOMATlC CONT RQLUNG DEVICE FOR STEAM-HEATlN G SYSTEMS.

srnolrzce'rion forniing part of Letters ?etent No.

716,850, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed Harsh 23, 1900. $ericl No. 9,830 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JAMES I-LDnvrs, of Chicago, county of (Jock, andState ol": Illinois, have invented an improvement in Automatic 5Controlling Devices for Steam-Heating Systerns, of which the followingis a specification.

- My invention relates to automatic controlling devices forsteam-nesting system. and it consists of the improvements which arefully I0 set forth in the following specification end are "shown in theaccompanying drawings.

It is theobject of my invention to enable the discharge-outlet of aradiator or other 7 ocrt of a steam heating appsrnlus to be conto permitthe water of condensation and air to escape Without Weete of uncoudensedsteam; and my invention is particularly scripted to that class oisteernheating systems in which the eir and water of condensation arecrown out of the radia tors, coils, or heaters by a partial vacuum orlower gressure created in the returns. in such systems Without carefulregulation or adjustment of the discharge from the radiotors, &c., thereis liability of an excess of steam beingwi'rewn through some lines withn deficiency t'lirougnotncr's, result ing" not only in waste of steam,out also in defective circulation. Thermostatic valves are used in gosuch systems to prevent the escape of steam by the expansion, lli'lflfi?the notion of steam,

of enexpensib'le outlet-controlling plug or tube; but it is the objectof my invention'to accomplish this result automatically without 5 theuse of such thermostatic exoenrling clevices; Tlnis have heretoforeccconaplicllco. by the use 0t 5t fleet-controlled valve for the mainoutlet for waterof condensation and an auxiliary sine-ll sir-outletindegaenfient of the v 40 control of the valve, which remains at alltimes open and through which the air is die charged whentiie main outletis closecl. in

such devices, owing to time smell crce of the float exposed to theaction of the small vol- 5 none of water in the valve-body, the suctionor lower pressure in the return tends to prevent the movement of thefloat one to hold. the valve closed. v

It icons of the objectsof the present in- 'vention to enable a maximumarea of the float to be subjected to the action of the wati ter ofcondensation in a valvebody of given size, so that the tendency of the'suction to hold. the valve closed may be overcome.

it is another object of my invention to in- 1 sure the constantiiisclinrge of the air without interference by accumulations of water ofcondensation which might not be snffioient to open the float-controllediiischerge-valvc.

My in vention elsoreletes to otl1eriroprove- 6o ments in constructiondesigned to make the valve device more certain and positive in itsaction. I

In theclrewings, Figure l iseiiicgrenunctic view illnstretiogtueapplication of my invention to e stenm neeting system of the ches actorreferred to. Fig. 2 is n v rtical sec tioncl view of the valve device.Fig. 15 is a plan view of the some with the top cap or cover removed,and Fig. showing the controlling-valve and port of the float. 1

A is'the valve-belly, having an inlet CL and an outlet 17. The velvebocly is preferably cup-shaped or recessecl internally, as at G, withthe inlet (1, opening into the upper portion thereof cool the outlet 2)leading from the bottom.

D is a tube extending from the outlet Z2 upward in the body A and isprovifieil with one or more openings (Z near the base, which communicatewith the outlet b and form therewith the main thoroughfare for theescape of the ureter of condensation. The n p per end of the tube D isprovided with e smell or constricted opening 8 for the escape oi air.

E is the float within the body A, carrying a valve or gets 0, whichcontrols the main outlet d. As shown, the fioet E is provicied with acentral tubule-r opening B, which fits upon the tube 1), and the valve 0is on extension or projection of the tube B, by which the centralopening is formal. The tube I) thus acts as e. tubular guide for thefleet B 5 cool forms an air passage-Way between,tl1e outlet and theupper part oi he valve-body.

F is the cap or cover of the valve-hotly. I

G is a. screen between the inlet a one tine outlet d I). This screen ispreferably cupshaped, fitting Within the cup-shaped. portion C of thevalve-body, endsupportefi etc. slight 4;- is a detail viera 7o to As theoutlet d b is situated at a substantial distance below the inlet a, thecup-shaped recess will form a receptacle oi sufiicient size for theaccumulation of substantial volume of water, and as the float E extends:5; within this recess 0 to a substantial extent a sufiiciently largearea of the float may be subjected to a sui'licient volume of water toobtain the necessary flotation to overcome the action of the suctionwithout increasing the size of the valve device to an objectionableextent.

In applying the valve device to a suction system the inlet (t is coupledwith the outlet of the radiator or coil J, to which the steam issupplied from the exhaust M or from any other suitable source, and theoutlet b is coupled with thereturn K, in which a partial vacuum or lowerpressure is created bythe pump or exhausting device L. As the airgooutlet e is constantly open, the air is con stantly exhausted from theradiators, dad; but owing to the small size of the opening 6 there is noappreciable waste of steam, such as would occur through an outlet, suchas b d, of sufficient size-for the discharge of Water. As the water ofcondensation accumu lates in the bodyA it lifts the float and opens thevalve; and the water is drawn out, the

valve automatically closing when the water is 4.0 discharged. 1

tended tube and carrying a gate or valve for normally closingthe lowerpassage-way for the escape of water throughsaid tube,and screensurrounding the lower portion of said float and acting as a support forsaid float its valve when in lowered position.

2; An automatic valve device for steamheating systems, consisting of avalve-body having an internally cup-shaped or recessed base with aninlet and an outlet leading re- 'speotively from the upper and lowerportions thereof, a valve to control said outlet, a float controlling:said valve and extending into said cup-shaped or recessed base, aperforated cupehaned diaphragm or screen Within. said cup-shaped hasesupporting said. float out of contact with the surface of said case, andsaid. valve device being provided with an air assage-way independent oithe control of said valve for the escape of air While said valve isclosed. In testi mony of which invention I have hereunto set-my hand.

JAIYIES ll. DAY '18. Witnesses:

A. J. SIMMONS. H. J; Knonn.

